The four letters, SSSS, on your boarding pass can instantly raise anxiety at the airport. Here’s what the mysterious code means, why travellers are flagged, and what to expect if you see it.
For travellers unfamiliar with the term, SSSS stands for Secondary Security Screening Selection. It is a system used by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in the United States to identify passengers for additional security checks.
If these four letters appear on your boarding pass, it means you have been selected for extra screening, even if you are enrolled in Trusted Traveller Programs such as Clear, NEXUS, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. The process can add anywhere between 15 to 45 minutes (or more) to your airport time, which can be particularly stressful if you are on a tight schedule.
While some frequent travellers are accustomed to enhanced security checks, for others the appearance of SSSS can come as an unexpected surprise.
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Despite travelling to more than 90 countries, one flyer encountered SSSS for the first time while returning from a month-long trip to Turkey and the Republic of Georgia in 2021. The journey began smoothly with a direct flight from Istanbul to Dallas and a seamless immigration process. However, issues began on the onward domestic connections. The traveller and her husband were flagged with SSSS on multiple legs — Dallas to Minneapolis, Minneapolis to New Orleans, and New Orleans back to Minneapolis. Each time, they were unable to check in online or at a self-service kiosk. It was only after speaking to an airline agent and receiving a printed boarding pass that they discovered the SSSS code.
Why are passengers flagged?
As per a report by The Indian Express, Secondary Security Screening Selection indicates that an individual requires additional security review.
“It doesn’t mean that it’s a criminal flag or accusation. An automated system randomly selects a person for this additional screening. Criteria could be your destination, like sensitive places like the United States of America, or frequent international travel, or a one-way ticket… or multiple transits, short stay abroad, etc.,” said K Anuradha Suresh, aviation expert and retired Senior AGM from Air India told to the Indian Express.
She further explained that inconsistencies in booking details or name similarities with individuals on criminal watch lists may also trigger the flag. “And unfortunately, if selected once, the system may re-select the passenger on subsequent trips, especially if travel patterns remain similar. This is automated, not manual targeting,” Anuradha clarified.
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Where does SSSS apply?
SSSS is strictly a US-based system aligned with American security protocols.
“You will generally only see the SSSS code if you are flying within the United States (domestic), or you are flying to the United States from another country, or you are flying from the United States to another country. If you are flying a domestic flight in another country — for example, London to Derby or Delhi to Mumbai- that does not involve the US at all, you will not see this on your boarding pass,” Anuradha said.
What to expect if you see SSSS
If SSSS appears on your boarding pass, you will not be able to check in online or use a mobile boarding pass. You must approach the airline counter at the airport for assistance.
At security, travellers can expect:
A full pat-down
Explosive trace detection swabs on hands and luggage
A detailed manual inspection of carry-on baggage
Powering on electronic devices to demonstrate functionality
